Pickin' Splinters

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Who Am I? | August 31, 2011

by 39 Comments

****Remember, try this without research. Release your inner James Joyce and show us your stream of consciousness as you decipher the answer. Add to that the teachings of Myagi: patience. If you don’t get the answer right away, give your brain a chance to work if for no other reason than to stay in the discussion. You may not have THE answer, but you might prompt another reader by asking the right question.

 

By Chas

I played most of my career with the same team, but for some reason, I’m almost as well known for the team who traded me away after I totaled 99 plate appearances in parts of two seasons.

OK, maybe it’s an exaggeration to say I’m just as well known for the team with whom I batted fewer than 100 times as for the team I played 14 years with. After all, I did hit over 300 homers and drive in almost 1000 runs for the latter team. It’s just that the trade is actually “discussed” in one episode of a popular sitcom.

I also got the chance to face my former team in the postseason three times. I batted .366 against them across those three series, but we only won one of them. Both times they beat us were in the league championship series, helping to prevent me from ever playing in the World Series. In fact, my team has never reached the Fall Classic. Not with me, not without me.

I hit over 40 homers and drove in over 100 runs in three consecutive seasons, but I only made the all-star team once. I also led the league in strikeouts in two of those years. Another dubious distinction I hold is I have the lowest stolen base success rate in history. Actually, they didn’t keep track of caught stealing prior to 1954, but since then my 25% 20% success rate (6 SB, 24 CS in 30 attempts) ranks dead last.

Who Am I?

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Comments

  4. Smitty says

    Danny Tartabull – he hit 40..

    We wouldn’t be talking about Jay Buhner.. Although I think he hit 40+ home runs a a few times and would have faced the Yankees in the playoffs when playing for Seattle.

  5. Casey says

    “In fact, my team has never reached the Fall Classic. Not with me, not without me.” Are we talking about the Mariners?

  6. Casey says

    Did Tartabull “hit over 40 homers and [drive] in over 100 runs in three consecutive seasons?”

    And did he play 14 seasons?

  7. Smitty says

    I am really starting to think it is Jay Buhner. Was with the Yankees long enough to change his clothes and was traded to Seattle. I think for a couple of postseasons, he drove them nuts.

    I am going with Jay Buhner.. Final answer.

  8. Smitty says

    I don’t think Tartabull did, but I am pretty sure Buhner did.. He had a string of about 3 or 4 really good seasons hitting right behind Griffey Jr and then the injuries started.

  10. Smitty says

    I know he was around for awhile. It was at least 10+ years..

    Actually.. the more I think about it – Tartabull might not have played on a team that was in the post season. He didn’t finish his career with the Yankees and I think he left them before they made their run in the 90’s.

  13. Wally says

    Tartabull played for the Royals … and they’ve been to the WS. Nor did he hit that many HRs.

    I think Smitty’s got it with Jay Buhner … some great years with the Mariners and of course, they’ve never made it to the Big Dance. Congrats … may be premature, but I think you have it.

    Casey … I think the sitcom is Seinfeld.

    The very first thought that popped into my head before heading to the showers was Bobby Murcer followed closely by Frank Howard from the old Senators …. but for Frank, they didn’t have the LCS for much of his career.

  20. Smitty says

    Actually..The Royals went to the Worle Series in 1985..I don’t think Tartabull came on to the scene until after that..I remember from his baseball card that he was the Rookie of the Year. But I think that was 1987? It was as I was in high school and getting into Rotisserie baseball. #@$% I just dated myself again! 😉

  21. Chas says

    Smitty, of all the commenters on this thread, you’re the only one who was still in high school in 1987, so don’t worry about dating yourself. 🙂

  22. Smitty says

    Does anyone else remember the Topps baseball cards from that time? If a player was an All-Star and Rookie of the Year – there would be a gold cup in the corner of the card. Was like finding gold in a pack of cards. Was just getting a chuckle thinking about it.

  23. Rey says

    Has to be Jay Buhner. The Seinfeld episode is when George was presumed “dead” because he left his car parked outside Yankee Stadium while he was away somewhere (can’t remember where). Steinbrenner was informed and he goes over to Frank and Estelle’s house to talk to them about George’s death. The only response Frank Costanza had was, “What the hell did you trade Jay Buhner for?!” Hilarious stuff. Frank and George Costanza might be the best sitcom characters of all time. I still laugh out loud to this day.

    Should I feel like a loser after this post?

  25. Chas says

    Jerry Stiller’s the best. I just ended up watching a bunch of other clips of his from Seinfeld on youtube.

    I guess you know by now that Jay Buhner is the answer. Smitty’s on a roll. Did you know there are only two teams who have never been to a World Series?

  28. Rey says

    I consider myself a bit of a Seinfeld-savant. The reference to me should have been common knowledge to most Americans anyway 🙂

  29. Crossword Pete says

    Sorry I have not been on for awhile. As Casey anticipated, I would have known the sitcom. A classic and hilarious scene when Frank “scold” Steinbrenner for that trade especially under the circumstances. Frank and Estelle may be as quoted by me as is Kramer.

  30. Chas says

    I need to do a list of my favorite sitcom parents: Frank and Estelle Costanza, Marie and Frank Barone, Arthur Spooner are the best ones that come to mind. Red and Kitty Foreman, Al and Peg Bundy, Archie and Edith Bunker might round out the list. Who am I missing?

    Anyone remember John Randolph, who apparently played Frank Costanza before Jerry Stiller, but has since been written out of the episodes he originally appeared in? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_Costanza

  35. Crossword Pete says

    Ozzie and Harriet Nelson and June and Ward Cleaver, and of course Dennis the Menace’s parents, Henry and what’shername Mitchell! Now THAT’S dating one’s self. How about Lost in Space; Will’s parents? Or Bud and Betty’s parents in Father Knows Best. I am suddenly realizing what every show was about as I grew up!

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